Does DIY Save You Money in the Long-Run?

As homes get older, it’s inevitable that problems start to occur. Leaky faucets, chipped paint, and loose hinges are just some of the common problems that everyone has to deal with at some point. If you let these build up over time, you might be tempted to bring in a professional to fix all of the issues at once. By getting into the habit of fixing the problems as they come around, though, you may be able to make significant savings in the long-run.

How Much Could You Potentially Save?

How much you could potentially save will depend largely on the kind of job you need done. If youâ€™re looking for a general labourer to fix some odd jobs, you shouldnâ€™t have to pay more than Â£80 for a day’s work, or Â£10 an hour. For more skilled work, though, like an electrician or a carpenter, you can expect to pay twice that. Bare in mind, this is just for the individualâ€™s time, too, and doesn’t take into account the cost of any materials necessary.

While you might think that itâ€™s unwise to try and tackle more skilled work yourself, you might also find that, since you’ve have to live with the results, you’re actually more incentivised to do good work than a entry-level labourer is. Of course, this way the job will take you much longer than if you hired a professional. Similarly, itâ€™s important you realise the limits of your own abilities before you start any major projects.

What Youâ€™ll Need to Get Started

Before you get started, youâ€™ll need to make sure you have the right tools. Essentials can often be found at discount by buying in bulk, while materials can be found on sites like Gumtree for a much reduced price. Itâ€™s common for other DIY enthusiasts to end up with more material than they need, so they look to offload it for cheap rather than have it take up space.

For power tools, itâ€™s recommended that you buy direct. While buying used doesn’t necessarily mean youâ€™ll have problems, unless you’re buying from someone you trust it can be difficult to know what you’re getting in for. The number one thing you shouldnâ€™t do is buy something based on appearance. While a tool that looks dirty might be off-putting, itâ€™s possible that it just been lying around in the garage. Meanwhile, something that looks brand new, could actually have been cleaned up to mask much deeper problems.